1933 R319 Goudey #181 Babe Ruth, signed by the Babe himself is arguably one of scarcest and most elusive Ruth signed objects in the hobby. Collectors can spend their whole lives and never encounter a single example. Recently discovered and fresh to market, this #181 Ruth has been squirreled away for decades and was once the pride of a young collector.
The card itself has been well-loved over the years and its face displays as a respectable GD while the back has been damaged from previous display with paper loss noticed; “Big League Chewing Gum” is still legible.
Recently inspected by the experts at JSA, Babe Ruth’s signature has been deemed Authentic but has been enhanced in an unknown hand in a slightly different black ink from an equally vintage steel tip fountain pen. Most likely the work of the enthusiast collector trying to make his prized possession as perfect as possible…